How to Use citronella in a Sentence

citronella

noun
  • They’re even designed to hold citronella oil to help ward off any pesky bugs as well.
    — Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023
  • Go beyond smelly sprays and citronella candles with these top picks.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Bonus points for the easy-to-distribute fine mist and citronella to help ward off pests.
    — Katy Kiick Condon, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2023
  • Think of citronella as part of a layered approach.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Gaiman put out a couple of citronella candles, lit them, and got into the bath.
    — Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Water citronella plants growing in the ground when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
  • Alternatives like the citronella spray didn’t work as well and tend to be oily.
    — Brad Moon, WIRED, 23 July 2012
  • Water your citronella plant whenever the soil is dry to the touch.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
  • Try candles or sprays scented with citronella, lemon, or vanilla to ward them off.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Try candles or sprays scented with citronella, lemon, or vanilla to ward them off.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Keep glow sticks, citronella candles and tiki torches out of pet's reach.
    — Leada Gore, AL.com, 4 July 2017
  • These citronella incense sticks are the secret to bug-free porch dinners.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
  • Peppermint, citronella, and neem oil have strong scents that deter many pests.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
  • The growing requirements are the same as for citronella grass.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
  • Instead, be sure to place a lantern with a citronella candle on every table.
    — Madeleine Luckel, Vogue, 20 June 2017
  • The smoke smelled comforting—like a mixture of sage and resin, citronella and my grandpa.
    — M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 29 Feb. 2024
  • Hot grills, charcoal, lighter fluid and citronella candles can also harm your pet.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun-Sentinel.com, 2 July 2018
  • Flies don't like citronella and other strong scents like lavender, rosemary, catnip, and basil.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Staff and visitors found its citronella aroma hard to take, and the piece came down in July.
    — Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2019
  • The all-natural blend of citronella and peppermint are suitable for both kids and adults.
    — Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2024
  • Must-haves include a grill brush, citronella candle, deck lights, and more starting at as little as $8.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
  • Shop citronella candles, table torches, and more from just $8.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
  • Shop citronella candles, table torches, and more from just $8.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
  • The torches hold 16 ounces of citronella oil each (not included), and provide up to six hours of burn time.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
  • But a few commenters in response suggested mesh food nets or citronella candles for keeping pests away.
    — Christina Montoya Fiedler, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2023
  • As a bonus, citronella grass is easy to care for, requiring only a sunny spot and watering once the top of the soil is dry.
    — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
  • Closely related to lemongrass, citronella grass should not be used for cooking.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
  • The leaves, which can be harvested year-round, are green and oval shaped and emit a fragrant aroma similar to that of citronella.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • And at Amazon, a citronella candle set is already on sale ahead of Prime Day.
    — Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 4 July 2023
  • The sun is high, the mosquitoes are biting and the age-old rivalry between citronella and bug zappers lives on.
    — Sydney Maki, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'citronella.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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